A rain-soaked Sunday evening and I was in a mood for self-reflection. And I got thinking about my encounter with ‘Overconfidence‘. There could be a learning for few of you out there!
How It Started?
My first encounter with the concept of overconfidence happened around the 7th or 8th grade. I was preparing for exams and my mom, who always seemed to know me better than I knew myself, commented on my “overconfident” tone.
Being young and naive, I dismissed her insight, not understanding its true meaning.
The warning resurfaced in 8th or 9th grade, this time from Ashaben, a teacher I deeply respected. She explicitly warned me, “Malhar, you’re overconfident!!”
This period coincided with my transition to a new school, one of the best in the city, a stark contrast to my previous, less prestigious institution. Having consistently been a top-ranked student in my old school, I arrived at the new one with an undeniable air of invincibility. However, I soon discovered a new breed of classmates – not just financially privileged, but intellectually sharp too.
Furthermore, unlike my previous teachers who often overlooked minor errors due to my good grades, the new school strived for perfection, highlighting every mistake. These “overconfident” missteps included misspelling words, grammatical errors, or in math, skipping entire steps, eager only to present the final answer.
Unsurprisingly, my grades suffered and so did my confidence. This dip wasn’t ideal for my formative years. Perhaps sensing this, my mom stepped in, offering balanced advice to help rebuild my self-assurance.
By 10th grade, I managed to achieve decent grades and it was time for another school change. This time, I moved from a top-tier school to one of significantly lower standards (a story for another time). Armed with good grades and decent communication skills, I found myself in a different league from my peers.
Subtly, my confidence again began to morph into overconfidence.
Unlike before, there was no Ashaben to sound the alarm, no one to warn me about this “slippery terrain.” My mom, too, believed I had learned my lesson.
Regrettably, my grades faltered and the subsequent years proved to be truly life-altering. Not only did my academic performance plummet, but every decision I made seemed to be meticulously scrutinized by society. We endured comments and criticisms that I would never wish upon any parent or child.
Slowly but surely, I emerged from that challenging period, eventually completing my post-graduation from an excellent institution – a dream that once seemed utterly out of reach. Those difficult years, in retrospect, became the very foundation of my life. What did I learn?
Being Humble
The greatest lesson gleaned from that turbulence was humility. My approach to everything became more humble.
I learned to embrace both good and bad moments.
Yet, as I embarked on my career, a naive trace of that slightly overconfident outlook persisted.
Being Cheerful
I also learnt that smile is your biggest weapon, even for yourself.
It was not that I did not understand the enormity of the situations but remaining cheerful helped me to maintain perspective and resilience even when circumstances felt overwhelming.
Rather it taught me that my emotional state, to a significant degree, was within my control, regardless of external pressures.
Being cheerful wasn’t merely a personal comfort, it also positively impacted my interactions with others. When I remained cheerful, even in trying situations, it created a more positive atmosphere, both for myself and for those around me helping everyone to see the silver lining.
In Career – The Surprising Upside of Overconfidence
Surprisingly, that very trait proved to be incredibly beneficial in my career!
In a couple of opportunities, my managers later shared, “During the interview, we knew your technical knowledge wasn’t as strong as others, but you were more confident in your answers. That confidence is a huge asset when you interact with senior colleagues.”
I believe that this unexpected positive aspect of overconfidence lies in its ability to project self-assurance, even when foundational knowledge might be developing.
Little overconfidence became my powerful tool in networking, presentations and leading initiatives, as others are often drawn to and influenced by perceived conviction.
But what I also learnt is that this confidence has to be balanced with a willingness to learn and adapt, so that it can open doors and create opportunities that might otherwise remain inaccessible.
So, while my journey has taught me that overconfidence, while potentially a stumbling block in its extreme, can also be a unique asset.
The key lies in understanding its nuances – recognizing when it borders on recklessness and when it acts as a catalyst for professional growth.
It’s about leveraging that self-belief to inspire trust and demonstrate leadership, while continuously striving to back it up with genuine competence and an open mind.
How have you managed?